Under the Euro Medium Term Note Programme ... - Finance - EDF
Under the Euro Medium Term Note Programme ... - Finance - EDF
Under the Euro Medium Term Note Programme ... - Finance - EDF
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Taxation<br />
provisions of an applicable tax treaty), by virtue of Article 125 A III of <strong>the</strong> French<br />
General Tax Code.<br />
Fur<strong>the</strong>rmore, interest and o<strong>the</strong>r revenues on such <strong>Note</strong>s may not be deductible from<br />
<strong>the</strong> Issuer's taxable income, if <strong>the</strong>y are paid or accrued to persons domiciled or<br />
established in a Non-Cooperative State or paid in such a Non-Cooperative State.<br />
<strong>Under</strong> certain conditions, any such non-deductible interest and o<strong>the</strong>r revenues may<br />
be recharacterised as constructive dividends pursuant to Article 109 of <strong>the</strong> French<br />
General Tax Code, in which case such non-deductible interest and o<strong>the</strong>r revenues<br />
may be subject to <strong>the</strong> withholding tax set out under Article 119 bis of <strong>the</strong> French<br />
general tax code, at a rate of 30 per cent. or 55 per cent.<br />
Notwithstanding <strong>the</strong> foregoing, <strong>the</strong> Law provides that nei<strong>the</strong>r <strong>the</strong> 50 per cent.<br />
withholding tax set out under Article 125 A III of <strong>the</strong> French General Tax Code nor<br />
<strong>the</strong> non-deductibility will apply in respect of a particular issue of <strong>Note</strong>s if <strong>the</strong> Issuer<br />
can prove that <strong>the</strong> principal purpose and effect of such issue of <strong>Note</strong>s was not that of<br />
allowing <strong>the</strong> payments of interest or o<strong>the</strong>r revenues to be made in a Non-Cooperative<br />
State (<strong>the</strong> "Exemption"). Pursuant to <strong>the</strong> ruling (rescrit) n°2010/11 (FP and FE) of<br />
<strong>the</strong> French tax authorities dated 22 February 2010 and <strong>the</strong> French tax authorities'<br />
guidelines n°14-A-5-12 dated 10 May 2012, an issue of <strong>Note</strong>s will benefit from <strong>the</strong><br />
Exemption without <strong>the</strong> Issuer having to provide any proof of <strong>the</strong> purpose and effect of<br />
such issue of <strong>Note</strong>s if such <strong>Note</strong>s are:<br />
(i) offered by means of a public offer within <strong>the</strong> meaning of Article L.411-1 of <strong>the</strong><br />
French Monetary and Financial Code or pursuant to an equivalent offer in a State<br />
which is not a Non-Cooperative State. For this purpose, an "equivalent offer" means<br />
any offer requiring <strong>the</strong> registration or submission of an offer document by or with a<br />
foreign securities market authority; or<br />
(ii) admitted to trading on a regulated market or on a French or foreign multilateral<br />
securities trading system provided that such market or system is not located in a<br />
Non-Cooperative State, and <strong>the</strong> operation of such market is carried out by a market<br />
operator or an investment services provider, or by such o<strong>the</strong>r similar foreign entity,<br />
provided fur<strong>the</strong>r that such market operator, investment services provider or entity is<br />
not located in a Non- Cooperative State; or<br />
(iii) admitted, at <strong>the</strong> time of <strong>the</strong>ir issue, to <strong>the</strong> clearing operations of a central<br />
depositary or of a securities clearing and delivery and payments systems operator<br />
within <strong>the</strong> meaning of Article L.561-2 of <strong>the</strong> French Code Monetary and Financial<br />
Code, or of one or more similar foreign depositaries or operators provided that such<br />
depositary or operator is not located in a Non-Cooperative State.<br />
Payments of interest and o<strong>the</strong>r revenues with respect to <strong>Note</strong>s which are assimilated<br />
(assimilables for <strong>the</strong> purpose of French law) and form a single series with <strong>Note</strong>s<br />
issued before 1 March 2010 with <strong>the</strong> benefit of Article 131 quater of <strong>the</strong> French<br />
General Tax Code, will be exempt from <strong>the</strong> withholding tax set out under Article 125<br />
A III of <strong>the</strong> French General Tax Code.<br />
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